Always turn your pre-amp on first then the amps,reverse it when you turn it off,the amps first then the pre-amp.The push-pull effect is normal on some speakers. |
Remember this rule:
Amp....last on, first off |
Does the push-pull problem still happen when the volume control is ALL the way down on the preamp? The buzz sounds normal to me - nearly all the tube gear I have owned has it - but the push pull indicates a near-DC signal coming out of your system. |
Check AC polarity on the wall plates and your grounding |
Turn on source, then preamp, wait 10s, then amp.
Turn off amp first, wait 10s, then preamp and source. |
I had a similar issue with my large electric Bass rig which consists of a solid state power amp, a hybrid preamp, sub crossover, etc. Plugging the AC cables into a modified (10g wire and Hospital grade receptacles) switched power strip eliminated the problem.
Sol322's suggestion should be done regardless of weather it fixes the problem or not. A simple three light receptacle tester should do the job.
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I have a tube preamp and like to turn it off at night too preserve tube life. My amps are solid state and I like to leave them on all the time. So when I turn off the preamp, the above advice suggests that I should turn my amps off too.
Any compromise or advice on this setup. My system is listed below. |
Thanks to everyone who responded.
My equipment is currently being plugged into an Audio Magic Eclipse power conditioner. I'm not an expert at electrical testing, but with the test that Sol322 is suggesting, what am I looking for? Would this test indicate if the power receptacle was wired incorrectly? I'll see if I can find one of the 3 light testers at Home Depot this week. Aball...Yes, the push/pull effect occurs even when the volume is turned all the way down.
Tony |
Mitch4t
According to Joe Fratus at Art Audio, you can leave the solid state amps powered up while powering down your preamp; it's good to engage an unused input before powering down. You need to follow the first on/last off if you run all tubes he says. Solid state can remain powered up but it helps if you are able to place the amps in standby mode when possible. |
Excellent tip Charlie101, especially to engage an unused input when powering down.
....thanks, mitch |
It has been well stated by my esteemed colleagues above, but another way to approach this is:
When powering up, work your way from source to end of the audio chain (speakers). Start tuning on at the beginning of the signal chain, i.e., the source (CD, tuner, phono pre) and then power on in the direction the signal will follow (the preamp next) and finally the last in the electronic chain (the amp).
When powering down, work your way back from the destination (speakers) to the source (next the preamp) and then the sources.
Power on from beginning to end.
Power off from end to beginning. |
If your tube preamp has a mute switch make sure to switch it to mute before turning the preamp off.
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Turn on any input equipment you will be using, CDP, ect.
When you turn on the preamp leave the switch in mute, then turn on the power amp. Wait about 20 to 30 seconds then set the mute switch to normal.
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When shutting the system down, again first mute the preamp, then shut off the power amp , and then the preamp.
Last any input equipment, CDP, ect.
See if that helps.
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I assume you always turn the volume control down before starting shut down. |
Tony:
Yes the test will show you if the polarity is correct in your wall plate and also tell you if you have adequate grounding. I'm not familiar with your Eclipse, took a peek at the audio magic site but couldn't tell if it has LED indicators for polarity and/or grounding as others do. It's important to check this for your equipment and filter to work in a proper way. |
Sol,
I'm not sure if the Eclipse has an LED indicator. I'll check tonight. I'll get the tester this week and see if it's wired correctly. I know the YBA amp I'm using specifically states that the polarity is important (there's a red dot or indicator at the plug location that shows this). Thanks for your help! I learn something new on Audiogon every day! I'll update this thread when I find out what the outcome is.
Tony |
Tony, Just a thought, try disconnecting the ics from the Power Amp's inputs. Power up the Amp just by itself, with just the speakers connected to it. If the Amp still makes the noise, "push/pull effect", through the speakers then that would indicate the problem is with the Amp.
What is the make and model of the preamp? Does it have a mute switch?
What is the make and model of the SS Amp? |
Jea48...
I'm in the midst of re-wiring my entire system (moving components around) so I'll give your suggestion a try in the next couple days. My preamp is the Copland CVA306 six channel tube preamp; my amplifier is the YBA 2 Alpha High Current. The preamp does not have a mute switch.
I somehow doubt that it's an amp problem though. I was previously using the amp with my Rotel pre-processor (now sold) and it did not have that problem.
Tony |
Thanks to everyone who responded. I bought the receptacle tester and everything seems to be wired properly. I realized that the volume was not turned all the way down before powering up my equipment. With the volume knob turned all the way down, combined with waiting 10 - 15 seconds after turning on the preamp, there is now a very minor push-pull effect on the speakers when I turn the amp on...much less than before!
Again, thanks for all your great advice!
Tony |
